EAST BREMERTON — When K-9 Deputy Aaron Baker lifted one of the next generation of police dogs out of his Kitsap County Sheriff’s car Friday afternoon, a collective “Awwwww!” rose from the crowd.

Baker and fellow K-9 Deputy Joe Hedstrom had just finished a demonstration of their canine partners, describing to a crowd at the Kitsap County Fair the discipline and agility of the office’s two tracking dogs.

But soon as the crowd set eyes on Blue, a 12-week-old puppy that Baker is raising and training at home, the pint-sized, furry deputy was swarmed by kids, crowding in to pet him.

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Police-dogs-to-be at the Kitsap County Fair.
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A high-scorer on the aptitude test that helps determine a law enforcement canine’s career path, Blue rested his belly on the grass and let the kids have their way with him.

That is part of why Baker selected the German Shepherd: His eager, curious disposition.

“His tail never stops wagging,” Baker said, who said in addition to showing Kitsap residents the dogs, just being around crowds and kids help socialize them.

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Kitsap County Sheriff's Deputy Joe Hedstrom holds Jax, a German Shepherd puppy police dog in training, as he licks the face of 10-month-old Ryder Lee on Friday at the Kitsap County Fair. Jax and a litter mate, Blue, are the offspring of Hedstrom's adult police dog and a family pet owned by Bremerton Police Officer David Hughes.(Photo: Larry Steagall / Kitsap Sun)

Blue and his littermate, Jax, were sired by Hedstrom’s dog, Titan, and a family pet German Shepard owned by Bremerton Police Officer David Hughes.

The breeding arrangement gives the office its pick of two pups from three possible litters, and saves the office a considerable amount of money. Hedstrom said buying a dog can cost upward of $10,000.

Blue got his name from the color of his collar used to distinguish him from his siblings, but it is a fitting name for a police dog. Jax is named in honor of one of Hedstrom’s dogs, Ajax, who served with the office from 2008 until his retirement in 2012 after being injured in the line of duty. Ajax lived the rest of his days with Hedstrom and his family and was put down in November.

Baker and Hedstrom are each housing and training two puppies themselves, a process that takes about two years. At that time their current dogs may retire, and the young ones could start their service.

Hedstrom said the new puppy is already showing his personality.

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Kitsap County Sheriffs K-9 deputy Aaron baker and new puppy Blue at the Kitsap County Fair and Stampede. The fair featured a K-9 demonstration. (Photo: Larry Steagall / Kitsap Sun)

“He thinks he is bigger than he is,” Hedstrom said of Jax, who was swarmed with kids. Hedstrom got swarmed by the kids as well.

“They are puppies,” Hedstrom said. “Who doesn’t like puppies?”

Jessica Degenhardt, 12, who was attending the fair with her mom, Becky, took her turn petting Jax and agreed that she would like to take the pup home with her.

The dogs perform critical functions for officers, like tracking suspects and recovering evidence. They often go into harm’s way, taking risks so their human partners don’t have to.

It takes a toll on the dogs, however, who have an ability to defuse tense situations, but can also become the targets of suspects' wrath. Baker’s dog, Heiko, was injured in November while chasing a suspect. The suspect had thrown a metal toolbox at Heiko, leaving him with a two-inch gash. Heiko took some time off to heal, and has since recovered, Baker said.

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Kitsap County Sheriffs K-9 deputy Aaron Baker and new puppy Blue at the Kitsap County Fair and Stampede. The fair featured a K-9 demonstration.(Photo: Larry Steagall / Kitsap Sun)

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Jax is still a puppy, but he's being trained to work as a police dog by Kitsap County Sheriff's Deputy Joe Hedstrom.(Photo: Larry Steagall / Kitsap Sun)

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Kitsap County Sheriffs K-9 deputy Aaron baker and new puppy Blue at the Kitsap County Fair and Stampede. The fair featured a K-9 demonstration. (Photo: Larry Steagall / Kitsap Sun)